Controls Engineer
Commonwealth Fusion Systems · Devens, MA
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Controls
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 4+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 16 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level controls role at Commonwealth Fusion Systems (industrial) in Devens, MA. A value for design for manufacturability, serviceability, and simplicity over complexity.
- They ask for
- 4+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Root cause, MSA / Gage R&R, PLC, AutoCAD, MES, EHS / safety
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Controls Engineer roles in Massachusetts: typical posted base $90k–$157k.
Median of the low and high ends of 13 live postings that list pay, out of 28 controls engineer openings in Massachusetts, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Massachusetts plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 27 other live controls postings in Massachusetts.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (4+ vs 5+)
Typical $90k–$157k, from 12 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ PLC 71%
- Automation 71%
- Robotics 39%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 29%
- ✓ Root cause 29%
- ✓ EHS / safety 21%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for MSA / Gage R&R, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Controls team at Commonwealth Fusion Systems
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Commonwealth Fusion Systems in Devens
15 other open roles at this site.
- Senior Controls Engineer · Controls · Senior
- Production Technician Supervisor - Second Shift · Production · Supervisor
- Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Assembly · Manufacturing · Senior
- Senior Manufacturing Engineer - First Shift · Manufacturing · Senior
- Manager, Process Engineering - Assembly · Process · Manager
- Senior Process Engineer · Process · Senior
Full description from Commonwealth Fusion SystemsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
What you'll do
- ◆Independently own the complete lifecycle — physical mounting, pneumatic/electrical integration, and PLC I/O mapping through commissioning — for smaller equipment components and upgrades, handing off to Manufacturing Engineering
- ◆Support production equipment on the floor — troubleshoot faults, restore uptime, and follow through with root-cause analysis and preventative fixes
- ◆Provide technical leadership on short-term problems within your group's scope; lead formal design reviews with cross-functional teams (equipment/MEs)
- ◆Contribute to system architectures and electrical schematics, applying and standardizing elements compliant with NFPA79/NEC/UL508A standards
- ◆Write and debug PLC structured text with an emphasis on code that is organized, documented, maintainable, and reusable
- ◆Contribute to department policies, tool development, and the characterization of automated processes using data-driven approaches like Cpk and Gage R&R
- ◆Respectfully raise concerns and share data-driven perspectives in group settings to support the best path forward
- ◆Identify and mitigate lower-risk items (e.g., lead times, part tolerances) by coordinating with standard vendors; escalate larger risks to management
requirements
- ✓Ability to lift up to 50 lbs occasionally
- ✓Perform activities such as typing, standing, stooping, and sitting, for extended periods of time
- ✓Dedication to safety to mitigate hazards that may include heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead, high voltage, and cryogenics
- ✓Willingness to occasionally travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
About Commonwealth Fusion Systems
Commonwealth Fusion Systems is on a mission to deliver the urgent transition to fusion energy.
Combining decades of research, top talent, and new technologies, we’re designing and building commercially viable fusion power plants. And we're working with policymakers, suppliers, and many others to build the energy industry of the future.
We’re in the best position to make it happen. Since 2018, we’ve raised $4 billion of capital, making us the largest and leading fusion company in the world.
Now we’re looking for more thinkers, doers, builders, and makers to join us. People who’ll bring new perspectives, solve tough problems, and thrive as part of a team.
If that’s you and this role fits, we want to hear from you.
Join the power movement as a Controls Engineer
As a Controls Engineer, you are proficient in most or all core functions of your discipline, executing mid-to-long term assignments that are loosely defined. You operate with general guidance from management, increasingly taking independent ownership of developing execution approaches for equipment and process concepts.
You will generate work plans and define milestones for your own tasks, identifying and mitigating lower-risk items. You will provide technical leadership on short-term problems within your group's scope and lead formal design reviews with cross-functional teams.
What we're looking for
- •Bachelor’s degree in engineering field is required
- •4+ years' experience as controls engineer on electro-mechanical systems
- •Proficiency in Structured Text and Ladder; working knowledge of other IEC 61131-3 languages
- •Ability to apply sound reasoning and judgment on tasks and near-term project decisions, with review and support from senior engineers
- •Working knowledge of control-related safety systems (ANSI/RIA15.06/OSHA compliant) and enclosure design compliant with NFPA79/NEC/UL508A standards
- •A reliable and persistent work ethic, seeing tasks through to completion and staying determined in the face of uncertainty and failure
- •Familiarity with manufacturing equipment and hands-on fabrication or assembly skills (e.g., rotating machinery, cable winding, soldering, pipe bending, or similar)
- •Collaboration experience with job shops and external vendors
- •High self-motivation and drive to execute quickly with strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
- •A value for design for manufacturability, serviceability, and simplicity over complexity
Bonus points for
- +Experience in Beckhoff and Siemens controls platforms
- +Experience in Ignition SCADA systems
- +Experience integrating equipment data into SCADA/data systems (e.g., IO-Link, MQTT)
- +Machine Vision experience
- +Greenfield or brownfield startup commissioning experience
- +Expertise with CAD drafting, specifically AutoCAD Electrical
Must-have